Army veterans, ex-diplomat want tough action against Pakistan

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Former soldiers and defence experts on Sunday unanimously called for a tough action against Pakistan, whom they blamed for the terrorist attacks such as the one on an army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir where 17 soldiers were killed.

“It is a clear attack on India by Pakistan. We can no longer afford to just not do anything. The Indian response should be tough…the retribution should be quick and tough,” Lt. Gen. (retd) Raj Kadyan said.

Major (retd) Gaurav Arya, who has expertise in Jammu and Kashmir security situation, echoed the sentiments.

“Unless we understand that the problem in Jammu and Kashmir is not a problem just there, but it is being artificially manufactured in the General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi, we would not be able to respond,” he said.

“The solution to the problem lies across the border, not here,” Kadyan said.

He also warned that there could be a spike in such strikes on India soil as a power struggle is going on in Pakistan between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, who is due to retire in November.

Former diplomat Rajiv Dogra said the attack on Uri army camp was such that it could not have been perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed or Lashkar-e-Taiba alone, hinting at the Pakistan Army’s involvement in the incident.

“Since 1947, barring 1971, we have not been able to devise a response to Pakistan’s mischief,” Dogra said.

He also called for downgrading ties with the “western neighbour”, including suspension of trade with it.

“Who knows what is coming in those trucks from across the border…there could be terrorists hiding in those trucks,” he added.

Heavily-armed militants attacked the army camp at Uri early on Sunday morning, killing 17 soldiers and wounding many others. Security forces shot dead all four attackers.